Valve Index
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| Valve Index | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Creator | Valve Corporation |
| Developer | Valve Corporation |
| Manufacturer | Valve Corporation |
| Announcement Date | April 30, 2019 |
| Release Date | June 28, 2019 |
| Price | $999 (Full Kit), $499 (Headset only) |
| Website | https://www.valvesoftware.com/en/index |
| Versions | Index Headset, Index Controllers, Full Kit, Base Stations |
| Requires | Gaming PC with DisplayPort |
| Predecessor | HTC Vive (Valve partnership) |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows, Linux (via SteamVR) |
| Chipset | N/A (tethered PCVR) |
| CPU | N/A (PC-powered) |
| GPU | N/A (PC-powered) |
| Storage | |
| Storage | N/A |
| Memory | N/A |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual LCD (full RGB) |
| Subpixel Layout | RGB stripe |
| Peak Brightness | Not specified |
| Resolution | 1440 × 1600 per eye (2880 × 1600 combined) |
| Pixel Density | ~14.5 PPD (estimated) |
| Refresh Rate | 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz (experimental) |
| Persistence | 0.330ms (at 144Hz) |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 108° (typical), up to 130° (adjustable) |
| Horizontal FoV | ~108° |
| Vertical FoV | ~108° |
| Average Pixel Density | ~14.5 PPD |
| Peak Pixel Density | ~14.5 PPD |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Dual-element canted Fresnel lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 58-70mm (mechanical adjustment) |
| Adjustable Diopter | No (glasses compatible) |
| Passthrough | No (front-facing camera for room view) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF outside-in (SteamVR Tracking 2.0) |
| Tracking Frequency | 1000Hz |
| Base Stations | Required (SteamVR 2.0 base stations) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No (Index controllers provide finger tracking) |
| Body Tracking | Via SteamVR trackers |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Update Rate | 1000Hz |
| Tracking Volume | Up to 10m × 10m (with 4 base stations) |
| Play Space | Roomscale |
| Latency | <11ms motion-to-photon |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Near-field speakers (off-ear) |
| Microphone | Yes (dual microphone) |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes |
| Camera | 2× stereo RGB cameras (passthrough) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0 |
| Ports | DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0, 3.5mm audio, 12V DC |
| Wired Video | Yes (DisplayPort) |
| Wireless Video | No (third-party wireless adapter available) |
| WiFi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Power | 12V DC power adapter |
| Battery Capacity | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A (tethered) |
| Charge Time | N/A |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | ~200mm × 130mm × 100mm |
| Weight | 809g (with cable) |
| Material | Plastic, fabric, aluminum |
| Headstrap | Integrated halo strap with dial adjustment |
| Haptics | Controller haptics |
| Color | Black/Gray |
| Sensors | Lighthouse tracking photodiodes, IMU, proximity sensor |
| Input | Index Controllers (included in kit), SteamVR controllers |
| Compliance | FCC, CE |
| Cable Length | 5 meters (tether cable) |
The Valve Index is a PC VR head-mounted display developed by Valve Corporation, announced on April 30, 2019, and released on June 28, 2019 at a price of $999 for the complete kit. Representing Valve's first self-developed VR hardware following their collaboration with HTC on the original Vive, the Index set new standards for high-refresh-rate VR with support for 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and an experimental 144Hz mode—the highest refresh rate available in consumer VR at the time. The headset introduced revolutionary Index Controllers featuring capacitive sensors that track individual finger positions, enabling natural hand poses without physical button presses. Combined with SteamVR 2.0 base station tracking delivering sub-millimeter accuracy, near-field off-ear speakers praised for exceptional audio quality, and dual-element canted optics providing up to 130° field of view, the Valve Index established itself as the premium PC VR reference platform.
History and Development
Valve's VR Journey
Valve's involvement in VR began internally around 2012-2013, with the company's research contributing significantly to the development of consumer VR. Valve collaborated with Oculus on early prototypes before the Facebook acquisition, then partnered with HTC to release the HTC Vive in 2016, which established the SteamVR platform and Lighthouse tracking technology.
Development of Index
After the Vive's success, Valve began developing their own hardware:
- Aimed to address Vive limitations (resolution, refresh rate, FOV, audio)
- New controller design enabling finger tracking
- Upgraded Lighthouse 2.0 tracking system
- Focus on premium enthusiast market
Announcement and Launch
Valve revealed the Index in stages:
- March 2019: Teased new VR hardware
- April 2019: Full specifications announced
- June 2019: Worldwide launch
Half-Life: Alyx
In November 2019, Valve announced Half-Life: Alyx—a flagship VR game designed to showcase Index capabilities. Released in March 2020, Alyx demonstrated what was possible with high-end VR hardware and drove significant Index sales, with Valve struggling to meet demand through 2020.
Display Technology
Dual LCD Panels
The Index uses custom LCD displays offering advantages over OLED alternatives:
- Resolution: 1440 × 1600 per eye
- Total Resolution: 2880 × 1600
- Panel Type: LCD with full RGB subpixel arrangement
- Subpixels: 50% more subpixels than OLED at equivalent resolution
RGB vs. PenTile
Unlike many VR headsets using PenTile OLED (RG-BG pattern), the Index's full RGB layout means:
- Every pixel has red, green, and blue subpixels
- Sharper text and fine detail
- Reduced screen door effect
- Better rendering efficiency
High Refresh Rate
The Index pioneered high-refresh-rate VR:
- 80Hz: Power-saving mode
- 90Hz: Standard VR refresh (backward compatible)
- 120Hz: High refresh mode
- 144Hz: Experimental maximum
Higher refresh rates provide:
- Smoother motion
- Reduced motion blur
- Lower latency
- Improved comfort during fast movement
Low Persistence
Global backlight illumination enables ultra-low persistence:
- 0.330ms at 144Hz
- Dramatic motion blur reduction
- Sharp images during head movement
- Essential for high-refresh effectiveness
Optical System
Dual-Element Canted Lenses
Unique optical design provides wide FOV:
- Two optical elements per lens
- Canted (angled) toward edges
- Wider field of view than single-element designs
- Approximately 108° typical, up to 130° maximum
Field of View Adjustment
FOV varies based on:
- Face shape and eye position
- How close eyes can get to lenses
- IPD setting
- Individual anatomy
Eye Relief Adjustment
Physical adjustment allows:
- Moving lenses closer to or farther from face
- Maximizing FOV when possible
- Accommodating glasses
- Dial on side of headset controls distance
IPD Adjustment
Mechanical slider beneath lenses:
- Range: 58-70mm
- Physical lens movement (not software)
- Ensures proper alignment for each eye
SteamVR Tracking 2.0
Lighthouse Technology
The Index uses Valve's Lighthouse tracking system:
- External base stations emit IR laser sweeps
- Photodiodes on headset detect laser positions
- Calculates position with sub-millimeter accuracy
- Up to 1000Hz tracking update rate
Base Station 2.0
Improved over original Lighthouse:
- Single rotor design (more reliable)
- Wider tracking field (160° × 115°)
- Longer range (up to 7 meters)
- Support for up to 4 base stations simultaneously
Tracking Volume
With two base stations: ~5m × 5m play area With four base stations: Up to 10m × 10m
Advantages
Outside-in tracking provides:
- Extreme accuracy
- Low latency
- Works in any lighting
- Consistent performance
Index Controllers
Finger Tracking Design
Revolutionary controller design:
- Capacitive Sensors: Detect finger presence on all surfaces
- Grip Sensing: Measures squeeze force
- Thumb Tracking: Position on trackpad/buttons
- Index Finger: Trigger with analog sensing
Natural Hand Poses
Controllers recognize:
- Fully open hand
- Individual finger curling
- Fist formation
- Pointing gestures
- Various grip strengths
Strap System
Unique hand attachment:
- Adjustable strap wraps around hand
- Controllers stay attached even when releasing grip
- Natural throw and release gestures possible
- Comfortable for extended sessions
Traditional Controls
Also includes conventional inputs:
- Analog stick
- A and B buttons
- System button
- Trigger
- Trackpad
Battery and Charging
- Internal rechargeable batteries
- Charging via USB-C
- Approximately 7 hours battery life
- Charge while playing possible
Audio System
Near-Field Speakers
Innovative off-ear audio design:
- Speakers positioned near ears without touching
- No ear cups or contact pressure
- BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) drivers
- Full frequency range reproduction
Audio Quality
Widely praised audio implementation:
- Excellent bass response
- Clear highs
- Wide soundstage
- Spatial audio support
- Comparable to good headphones
Open Audio Benefits
Off-ear design provides:
- Comfort during extended sessions
- Environmental awareness
- No heat buildup
- Natural sound reproduction
3.5mm Jack
Alternative audio option:
- Use preferred headphones
- Standard jack on headset
- Maintains spatial audio processing
Dual Microphones
Integrated microphone system:
- Two microphones for noise cancellation
- Clear voice communication
- Works well in VR social applications
Physical Design
Build Quality
Premium construction:
- Aluminum and plastic housing
- Fabric-covered facial interface
- Robust build for enthusiast use
- High-quality materials throughout
Head Strap
Integrated halo-style design:
- Rear dial for fit adjustment
- Top strap for weight distribution
- Comfortable for extended sessions
- Quick donning and doffing
Facial Interface
- Removable foam padding
- Magnetic attachment
- Replaceable (multiple sizes available)
- Wide face gasket included
Cables
- 5-meter tether cable
- Proprietary connector at headset
- DisplayPort 1.2 + USB 3.0 + 12V power
- Breakaway connection at headset for safety
Connectivity
PC Requirements
Demanding specifications for full performance:
- Minimum GPU: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD RX 480
- Recommended GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1070+
- For 144Hz: High-end GPU recommended (RTX 2080+)
- DisplayPort 1.2: Required (HDMI adapters not supported)
- USB 3.0: For data transmission
SteamVR Platform
Deeply integrated with Steam:
- Native SteamVR runtime
- OpenXR support
- Automatic software updates
- Workshop content support
- Linux support (native)
Full Kit Contents
| Component | Contents |
|---|---|
| Headset | Index HMD with integrated audio |
| Controllers | 2× Index Controllers with straps |
| Base Stations | 2× SteamVR Base Station 2.0 |
| Accessories | Power adapters, USB cables, wall mounts |
Modular Purchase Options
| Configuration | Price (2019 launch) | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Full Kit | $999 | New VR setup |
| Headset + Controllers | $749 | Upgrading from Vive |
| Headset Only | $499 | Using existing controllers |
| Controllers (pair) | $279 | Upgrading from Vive wands |
| Base Station (single) | $149 | Additional tracking coverage |
Wireless Adapter
Third-party wireless solution available:
- Manufacturer: TPCast (HTC/Valve endorsed)
- Technology: 60GHz wireless transmission
- Latency: Minor increase over wired
- Battery: External battery pack
- Not officially from Valve
Market Position
Steam VR Hardware Survey
As of January 2025: 13.2% of SteamVR users use Valve Index
- Premium segment leader
- Popular among VR enthusiasts
- Strong sim racing and enthusiast community
Competition
Positioned against:
- Meta Quest (different market segment)
- HP Reverb G2 (resolution-focused)
- Pimax headsets (FOV-focused)
- Bigscreen Beyond (comfort-focused)
Technical Specifications Summary
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | Dual LCD, 1440 × 1600 per eye |
| Total Resolution | 2880 × 1600 (RGB) |
| Refresh Rate | 80/90/120/144Hz |
| Field of View | 108° typical (up to 130°) |
| Tracking | SteamVR 2.0 (outside-in) |
| Controllers | Index Controllers with finger tracking |
| Audio | Near-field speakers (off-ear) |
| IPD | 58-70mm (mechanical) |
| Weight | 809g |
| Connection | DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0, 12V DC |
| Price | $999 (Full Kit) |